From his chart-topping hits, to his larger-than-life persona, Rich James revolutionized the world of music, and left a lasting impact on the industry. His story is now being told on stage in a play that’s made its way to Detroit.
Playwright for “Super Freak, The Rick James Story,” Je’Caryous Johnson, and Ty James, daughter of Rick James, stopped by “Live in the D,” to discuss the production. Johnson, who described Rick James as “a super talented, funky pioneer of a human being,” said the late superstar’s narrative needed to be told, and the truth of who he was. He said, the play shows who James was as a kid from Buffalo, who came to Motown.
Ty James said she always wanted her dad’s story to be told in a musical, and that Stokley Wiliams, from the R & B group “Mint Condition,” is the best person to portray her father. You can catch Stokley in “Super Freak, The Rick James Story,” at the Musical Hall in Detroit., Thursday-Sunday.
To see the entire interview, click the video above.